My New Love is EBATES

So I have a new love. It is Ebates! I absolutely am trying to figure it out why I did not join it earlier.

I click on Ebates. Then type in my favorite store. Ebates takes me to that stores web site. I then shop and pay like normal! It is that easy!

They also list coupon codes for many of the stores. I have saved money at Walmart, Target, Toms, NoMoreRack and so many more! If I am going to spend money anyway...I might as well get some back!

All you need to do to start saving is click the below link. You will automatically get a $10 gift card with your first purchase through Ebates!

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=2a3t2xyUGdkdL%2B3yyvA9IQ%3D%3D&eeid=26471

Happy earning!!!!!

Woo Hoo Sign Language Numbers-American Sign Language Blog Hop!!!!

Oh my gosh I am so excited to have this stamp set! I was excited when Melissa from A Creative Journey with Melissa came out with the Sign Language Alphabet-American Sign Language and then she came out with Sign Language Numbers-American Sign Language ! So here is the fun part...There is a blog hop this month highlighting lots of stamps and new releases! If you hop to everyone's blog...follow their blog and answer their question in the comments you can win some AMAZE-BALL PRIZES!

You want to do this hop cause there is no release for January! So here are the stamps being released and highlighted.

• Sign Language Numbers - American Sign Language
• Sentiments for All Occasions
• Everyday Alphabet Outline Upper and Lower Case Stamp Set
• Everyday Alphabet Outline Numbers and Symbols Stamp Set
•  Everyday Upper and Emoticon Stamp Set
• Everyday Alphabet Lowercase and Numbers Stamp Set

Now for the blog hop you going to go to the first person on the list!

Melissa

Sandy

Haidee

Alena

Amanda

Leticia

**Brandie**

 

 

 

So my question is: Do you know sign language or ever wanted to learn sign language?????

 

Make sure to leave your answer in my comments and follow my page (if you do not already).

Then hop over to Melissa and hit all the ladies up and do the same!

The winner of the blog hop will be released on 12/13 at Melissa's blog.

The blog ends on 12/12 at 8 pm! 

 

**If you refer someone to my blog by sharing this blog hop...make sure when they comment their answer they let me know you told them to come to me. I will also have a prize I will send you as well. So make sure you share on Pintrest, Facebook, Twitter, etc! You can win a prize from me AND Melissa! My prize will be a $10 Michaels or Joanns gift card of you choice! Design team members are excluded. Sorry ladies.**

 

Melissa's giveaway includes:

Sentiments for all Occasions stamp set
Sign Language Numbers - American Sign Language stamp set
Sizzix Embossing Folder set
Prima Flowers

WOOT WOOT!

 

 

Now for my projects!

 

One thing with many brand new stamps...you have to "season" them before you use them on a project. By seasoning stamps you usually have to stamp them a couple of times to get a nice clear full image. Stamps from A Creative Journey with Melissa you do not! The cards below were stamped with the Sign Language Numbers-American Sign Language only 1 time!

 

 

Here is my favorite Christmas card I have made this year. I loved it cause it has a cut out that is connected by 2 trees that are embossed for some texture. It is a simple card but has a lot of punch. What do you think???

 

 

 

 

Now do you see how cute this is???? So here is a close up of the stamp that was only stamped once!

 

 

 

See how clear and crisp it is????

 

Now for my second project. I wanted to make a card for my niece who will be 3 next year. It cracks me up cause most kids hold up the typical 3 fingers. When she says 3 with her hands...she does it the American Sign Language way!

 

 

What it is so cute about this card is how simple it is. I used two cute girl colors a pink and a soft plum for the backround. The cupcake is on a wobble so it will be fun when she opens it and wobbles all over! The "You" and "Are" are also from A Creative Journey with Melissa and are the Everyday Outline Upper and Lower Case stamp set.

 

I hope you enjoyed my creations this month. Remember after you follow my blog, answer my question...then hop over to Melissa's and do the same for the rest of the ladies! Don't forget to share so you can win not only a prize from Melissa but from me as well!

 

Always,

Brans

 

 

 

 









So Thankful!!!! 80% OFF!!!!!

So I am Thankful for a lot of things in my life such as my family and my ability to deal with my lack of health. I will be gone the rest of the week visiting family but thought I would share an amazing thing I am Thankful for Melissa's Birthday Celebration!!!! Her birthday is today and she has an 80% off special!!!


You know how much I love her stamps. Actually I love them so much that December is my last month with Close to my Heart! So head on over and let her know I sent you!!!!

Blog Hop Winner!!!!!!!

Thank you all for participating in the Blog Hop! There are three winners!


We have three winners! The winners are Sue, Becky and Iris!

Please go to Melissa's Blog at http://acreativejourneywithmelissa.com/blog/november-blog-hop-winners/

Here is a new project I did for a swap:

Alpha Outlines are my Favorite!!!!!

Welcome to the monthly NEW RELEASES for A Creative Journey with Melissa. Every SECOND WEDNESDAY of the month we will be featuring our newly released stamp sets. I am a Design Team member for A Creative Journey with Melissa and I am thrilled to be able to share these creations with you today. The new stamp releases are the Greetings on the Go and Birthday Wishes stamp sets. We are also highlighting our amazingly cute and versatile Everyday Alphabet stamp sets throughout this hop as well. I am highlighting the Alpha Outlines stamp set for this blog hop.

Please be sure to hop along to each of the Design Team Member's blog, become a follower their blog if you aren’t already and answer the question correctly that they have posted to qualify for the giveaway.

The giveaway includes:
Greetings on the Go Stamp Set
Birthday Wishes Stamp Set
Sizzix Embossing Folder set

My question is: What project can you see yourself using this awesome stamp for???

The Blog Hop line-up:

Melissa: http://acreativejourneywithmelissa.com/blog/november-release-blog-hop-giveaway/
 
Sandy: http://creationsbysandyb.blogspot.com/2014/11/new-release-for-creative-journey-with.html
 
Haidee: http://created2bunique.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-creative-journey-with-melissa-new.html

Monica: http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com/2014/11/party-time-new-release.html
 
Rhoda: http://rockpaperscissorsandscrap.blogspot.com/2014/11/november-creative-journey-with-melissa.html
 
Alease: http://prettiespleasecraftycorner.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-creative-journey-with-melissa.html

Brandie: YOU ARE HERE

Please be sure to answer every question asked of you correctly on each blog and become a follower if you aren’t already. If you qualify, you will be entered in the giveaway for the three prizes if you do so! Entries for this blog hop will end Friday at 8 PM PT. Winners will be announced on Saturday on the A Creative Journey with Melissa's blog at http://acreativejourneywithmelissa.com/blog/november-blog-hop-winners/ You must contact Melissa with your shipping information via Facebook PM, comment on her blog or e-mail her within three days of the winning announcement blog post or your prize will be forfeited. US Residents only please. Thank you for your understanding.

Be sure to check back to see if you are a winner. Thanks so much for hopping along with us!

 

Here are the projects I have created using the Alpha Outlines stamp set.

 

 

 

I really just love the Alpha Outline stamps from A Creative Journey with Melissa.

 

Everyday Alphabet Outline Upper and Lower Case

 

 What makes them really unique is that they contain both upper and lower case! Many stamps it is one or the other...not both. You can also color them in as well as overlap them! The size is perfect for both cards. She also has a coordinating set with more symbols and numbers! It is perfect for birthday cards as well as the ultra popular hash tags and quotes "#"!

 

Everyday Alphabet Outline Numbers and Symbols

 

 

So here are my two projects. I really wanted to do something for winter that could be used as a Christmas card or anything else for that matter!

Front of card. Don't you just love the snowman looking up for more snow???

Close up of stamped image.

Close up of my snowman and snowflake!

The inside of the card. Love the font!


The paper is from Close To My Heart as well as the ink.

My second project is an easy quick little gift tag! The paper is White Daisy from Close To My Heart and I embossed it with Anna Griffin's folder. The Silver snowflake is also from Anna Griffin. I bought it with the auto ship program from HSN.

I used Crystal Blue ink from CTMH and stamped "Snowflake Kisses" obviously from A Creative Journey with Melissa! LOL!

Here are the other stamps that are being released today!!!

Greetings on the Go 
 http://ACreativeJourneywithMelissa.com/product/greetings-go/ 

 

Birthday Wishes
  http://ACreativeJourneywithMelissa.com/product/birthday-wishes/

I have said it more than once and will say it over and over again...I love her stamps! You do NOT have to "season" them. Most of these images are first time stamped without a foam pad under it! I just do it on my messy desk top that is a solid wood. They are very compact and easy to store. Another great thing cause you can hide it from your significant other with the saying "Oh I have had those forever"!

Hope you have enjoyed my blog today. Remember to answer my blog question:

What project can you see yourself using this awesome stamp for???

Then hop over to Melissa's blog...answer her question and go on to the next. Expect to be inspired!!!!

Thank you for visiting me and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends!

Always,

 

Brandie

 

 



Oh sneak peak!!!!!

So I have been so busy this month. I have been working 2 part time jobs that equal 11 hours each day plus still have all the kids activities and my volunteering! So later this week is another amazing design release for A Creative Journey with Melissa! I will be highlighting the stamp sets of Everyday Alphabet Outline Upper and Lower Case as well as Everyday Alphabet Outline Numbers and Symbols!

 

Here are some work already released by the amazing designers!!!

 

 

Both are already released and available at www.acreativejourneywithmelissa.com so check it out!

Coffee is my Liquid Therapy

Coffee is my Liquid Therapy!

 

Welcome to the monthly NEW RELEASES for A Creative Journey with Melissa. Every SECOND WEDNESDAY of the month we will be featuring our newly released stamp sets. I am a Design Team member for A Creative Journey with Melissa and I am thrilled to be able to share these creations with you today. The new stamp releases are the You’re Snow Wonderful and Coffee is My Liquid Therapy. We are also highlighting our amazingly cute and versatile Everyday Alphabet stamp sets throughout this hop as well. I am highlighting the Coffee is My Liquid Therapy & Everyday Alphabet Outline Upper and Lower Case stamp set for this blog hop. Please feel free to click on the stamp's name to take you directly to order! Here are my projects and directions!

If you at all know my husband you know that he loves loves loves his coffee. He jokes that he would take it via IV if he could. He is not a happy man when he wakes up until his first cup is gone. Then and only then could you talk to him. LOL! I was so excited when Melissa came up with this stamp set! It is BEAUTIFUL and so inspirational. I may have to sneak a picture of my husband drinking his first cup of morning coffee and do a page with this stamp set.







My first project is a 5x7 card that I was inspired to make as a coffee shop store front! I first  started with the brown "wood" front.

I cut strips for the top and the then embossed the bottom and right piece with ink accent.

I then stamped and colored in the images including cups, coffee beans and words "Coffee" and "Tea".

 

 

Then it was time to put it all together!

 

 

I then decided to do a simple cute card to "warm your heart" especially when it is going to start to get cold outside.

I embossed Daisy White cardstock from CTMH and used Crystal Blue ink over the top to bring out the snowflake.

 

Then it was time to do the multiple stamps to create the one cup image. Keep in mind this is the first time I am stamping these stamps. So there is no seasoning involved!!!! I love love love it!

 

 

 

How cute and easy is that??? Next it was putting it all together with some pink tulle and pink CTMH cardstock.

 

 

Ok so I decided to do another last minute project. Can you tell I was inspired??? So with the Coffee is My Liquid Therapy I used the star for the back round stamp with Close To My Heart ink.

 

 

Then I used Everyday Alphabet Outline Upper and Lower Case. This stamp is so great cause it has upper and lower case stamps.

 

 

I stamped it with Close To My Heart White Daisy. I think this is the best white ink around. It goes on black so easily (as you can tell).

 

 

So I was asked to do an invitation for a baby shower with the movie clapper and theme A Star is Born! What do you think?

 

 

Close Up.

The star is cut out from CTMH Artbooking Cricut Cartridge...then run through the zyron sticker maker and the sticky side smothered in gold glitter.

 

Your Snow Wonderful is the other stamp set that is being released today. You can check out the artwork created with it during the blog hop...but here is the stamp set!

 

Please be sure to hop along to each Design Team Member's blog, become a follower their blog and answer their question correctly that they have posted to qualify to win the prizes.

 
The prizes include:
You're Snow Wonderful
Coffee is My Liquid Therapy 
Sizzix Embossing Folder set
Scrapbook Adhesives 3-D foam squares 
 
 
My question is:

How would my husband take his coffee if he could?
 
The blog hop line-up:
 
Melissa
Amanda
Alena
Haidee
* Brandie * You are here
Monica
Rhoda
Alease
 

Please be sure to answer on everyone's blog the question asked of you correctly and follow each blog. You will be entered in the giveaway for the three prizes if you do so! Entries for this blog hop will end Friday at 8 PM PT. Winners will be announced on Saturday on the A Creative Journey with Melissa's blog http://acreativejourneywithmelissa.com/blog/october-new-release-blog-hop-winners/

 

Be sure to check back to see if you are a winner!

 

Thanks so much for hopping along with us!

Always,

Brans



Really Inspired

Sometimes it is the little things that inspire us. Sometimes it is a fire under our but that inspire us! This time it was a fire under my butt! I belong to a great group on Facebook. It is all about stamping. Hello how can I not be inspired?!?!?! So we had a swap and I signed up for 2 sets of cards. One was "Autumn" and the other was "Thank You". You have to make six of each. You do not get one back. The 6th one goes to charity! I need to remember this so I can make more on the next swap. LOL

 

First one I did was one when I pulled out my pigment powders. I have not used them in scrapbooking in YEARS. Part of the reason is that they are messier than glitter! It gets everywhere and on everything. I think I have shimmer on me somewhere...even after 2 showers!

 

I used CTMH stamps, Anna Griffin Embossing Folder, Walmart Cardstock with pigment powders for the leaves and over the embossed image.
 

Next I did a card for the "Thank You". This one I loved. I first used random cardstock I bought at Walmart and embossed it with a folder from Anna Griffin.

 

 

As you can tell I then inked it with CTMH Barn Red. Loved it! Looks a bit like leather. Don't you think?

 

Used my CTMH ink pads, pen from heaven LOL and my A Creative Journey with Melissa stamp set!

I then colored in the stamp set. This stamp set is available at www.acreativejourneywithmelissa.com

 

 Thanks for looking!

 



Always,

 

Brans

Artfully Sent Collection by CTMH is FINALLY HERE!!!!

IT IS FINALLY HERE!!!

 

 

If you know anything about CTMH you know that our Cricut carts are second to NONE! People think that they are expensive cause they are $99. Ummm they contain 700+ cuts. They also come with 3 quantity D size stamp sets that are almost $20 each PLUS Artfully Sent comes with a 12x12 pack of Cardstock (about $15 value) !!!! So you are looking at almost $75 in product alone and have not even counted in the cartridge! So the cart really only costs you a little more than $25!

 

 

So drum roll please.......

 

 

Product Description

Cardmaking has never been easier or more fun! With our newest Cricut® collection, you can make handmade masterpieces in no time at all. Choose from cards with sentiments cut directly into them, or combine several cutouts to create your own pop-up scenes. Featuring more than 25 different card themes and 5 different card formats including dynamic interactive designs, this cartridge has a card for any and all occasions—even if the occasion is "just because"! Card styles include pop-ups, scenes, sentiments, sleeves, and pocket cards.

Collection includes:

1 – Cartridge (700 images: Cards and Font)

3 – My Acrylix® D-size stamp sets

1 – 12" × 12" White Daisy Cardstock Pack

Recommended blocks for included stamp sets: 1" × 1" (Y1000), 1" × 3½" (Y1002), 3" × 3" (Y1006), 2" × 3½" (Y1009).

Cricut® is a registered trademark of Provo Craft & Novelty, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

Here is the link that takes you right to this Cricut cartridge

http://brandie.ctmh.com/retail/product.aspx?sku=Z3017

 

Just click on the link and it brings you right to the page on my web site. You will fall in love with this cartridge and want all of them once you see how amazing they are!

 

 

Always,

 

Brans

 

Celebrate Judaism with A Creative Journey with Melissa Blog Hop!

Welcome to the monthly NEW RELEASES for A Creative Journey with Melissa. Every SECOND WEDNESDAY of the month we will be featuring our newly released stamp sets. I am a Design Team member for A Creative Journey with Melissa and I am so excited to be able to share these creations with you today. The new stamp releases are the Fall and Winter Holiday Sentiments and Celebrate Judaism. We are also highlighting our amazingly cute and versatile Everyday Alphabet and Everyday Alphabet Outline stamp sets throughout this hop as well. I am highlighting the Celebrate Judaism stamp set for this blog hop. Please be sure to hop along to each Design Team Member's blog, follow their blog and answer each question correctly that they have posted to qualify to win the prizes. The prizes include:

• Fall and Winter Holiday Sentiments
• Celebrate Judaism
• Sizzix Embossing folder set
• Scrapbook Adhesives 3-D foam squares

My question is What is your favorite image on the Celebrate Judaism set?

• Mine are the multiple sizes of the Star of David.

 

 

Here is the set!!!!!

 

 



 See what I mean about all the different sizes of the Star of David??? Also you have the positive and negative of them! The font is just beautiful and timeless. Well of course I had to do a Hanukkah card.

Here are my supplies:

My paper was random CTMH paper. I actually used scraps! That is how inspired I was. I always suggest you save your scraps if they are at least 3"x3" in size. I also used CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge for the sentiment outline. You can purchase many of these supplies at my web site where we are having an amazing free September special.

I random stamped on the dark blue paper with the dreidel. The light blue paper I used the smallest Star of David and random stamped that too. Random stamping is amazing to do to make your own paper. Here is an example of that. I did with Melissa's last year Jewish stamp release.

Here is a close up of the wording on my card. The font is so beautiful.

There is a matching sentiment to go inside the card which states "May your home be bright with happiness and love." and it is in the same beautiful font.

What is great about Melissa's stamps is that she thinks of everything with her sets. Not only are there cute sayings such as "Mazel Tov" but you also get "Shalom", "Shabbot", "Hanukkah and "Chanukah". So no matter how you spell it...it is there!

This inspired me to make a Rosh Hashana card. It reminds me of my childhood with the apples and honey.

I used random papers with the Darice embossing folder. I highlighted the honey combs with the gold Zig Wink glitter pens. The apple leaves are Zig Wink Luna green B14 M128. The apples were cut out with Creative Memories Cheerful Seasons Cricut Cartridge. I tell you...I will use whatever works with my project! No matter what the company :-) The jar was cut with Cricut Doodlecharms. The only CTMH item on here is the black outline you see going around many of the objects as well as the ink for the sentiment.

Here is a close up of the sentiment. I stamped this once! No prestamping. No seasoning the stamp. This is the one and only time this sentiment was stamped!

You can see that I hand colored in the honey combs with the gold pen by Zig Wink.

Here are the links for stamp sets:


Celebrate Judaism - http://ACreativeJourneywithMelissa.com/product/celebrate-judaism/


Fall and Winter Holiday Sentiments -
http://acreativejourneywithmelissa.com/product/fall-winter-holiday-sentiments/

I hope you enjoyed my participation in the Blog Hop with A Creative Journey with Melissa. Please feel free to hop along to the other participants. Just click their name and you will get right to them! Make sure to:

1. Go to each person in the Blog Hop
2. Answer their Blog Hop Question
3. Follow their blog by clicking the button to follow.

Brandie **YOU ARE HERE**


Sandy


Haidee


Leticia


Marie
 

Melissa

Always,

BransMy family likes to eat nuts, apples and honey in these meals. It inspired me to make this card.